Roller-skate.



No. 675,824. Patentod lune 4, |90I. C. lFDI-II?.

RULLER SKATE.

(Ayplietion lod Nov. 91, 1900.)

(Ilo Indol.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL FOUR, OF SCHLOSS lVALIiENBURG, GERBLNNY.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPEGIEICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,824, dated June 4,1901.

Application iiled November 21,1900. Serial No. 37,247. (No model.)

To (LZ/ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL FOHR, a subject of the King of Bavaria,residing at Schloss Wallenburg, near Miesbach, in the Kingdom ofBavaria, German Empire, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Roller-Skates, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in roller-skates.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a roller-skate whichwill be applicable for use on rough skating-ground.

Vith this object in view and some others which will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art my invention consists in the features, details ofconstruction, and combination of parts, which will iirst be described inconnection with the accompanying drawings and then particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a skate embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a transverse section of such a skate in which adouble ball-channel is employed.

Referring to the drawings, b is a tubular carrier having the shape of alink-that is to say, the said carrier has an upper and a lower straightportion and two curved and preferably semicircular end portions eachconnecting the corresponding ends of the straight portions. The carrierb has the underneath side of the tube forming its lower horizontalportion cut away, as shown in the drawings, for a purpose hereinafterdescribed. The interior of the tubular carrier b serves as a channel orraceway, in which is located a series of antifriction devices-forexample, the antifriction-balls a-which are free to travel around thecircuit of the ball-channel and which when they reach the lower portionof the carrier l) (whose underneath part is cut away, as has beenpreviously described) will will project beyond the carrier. Theseprojecting portions of the antifriction devices rest upon the horizontalportion of an endless apron or belt c, which contacts with theskating-surface. This apron c is preferably in the form of an endlessmetallic strip passing entirely around the carrier Z). In order to holdthis apron c against lateral displacement, while at the same timepermitting it to move longitudinally, suitable guide devices areprovided-as, for example, the pair of antifriction-rollers d, Fig. l,mounted in lugs secured to the front end of the carrier l), and the eyesor staples f, one secured to the rear end of the carrier b, and aplurality attached to the under surface of a foot-plate e, which isfixed upon pcdestals g, mounted upon the carrier l) and serving tostrengthen the same. The carrier is also provided with a centralcross-bar 7L in order to still further strengthen it. The foot-plate isshown as provided with a counter t' and is intended to be secured to thefoot of the skater by any suitable means. (Not shown.)

The operation of the device is as follows: When the skater strikes outwith his foot in skating, the push given to the leading foot causes theballs to roll backward along the apron, thus causing all the balls tocirculate in the orbit formed by the ball-channel in the usual way ofsuch devices. The friction of the apron on the skating-surface, causedby the weight of the skater, results in the apron moving so as to alwayspresent a further surface for the balls to travel over. In this way theapron forms a track for the antifriction devices to roll over, therebyavoiding to a large extent the disadvantages arising from a roughskatingsurface.

It is obvious that the carrier may have a plurality of sets ofantifriction devices, if so desired. For example, Fig. 2 shows a skatein which two sets of balls and their raceways are provided. Such a skategives a broader bearing-surface for the skater, while at the same timegiving an opportunity for edgeskating,7 which would not be the case ifwide antifriction devices were employed. In other words, with two setsof balls the skater may execute the usual fancy evolutions which aredone on ice-skates by using either the inside edge or the outside edgeof the skate.

IIaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a roller-skate, the combination, with a tubular carrier having itslower portion cut away, a series of separate antifriction deviceslocated and movable in a circuit within the tubular carrier and arrangedto project through the cut-away portion when opposite the same, and afoot-plate supported by said IOO carrier, of an integral flexible apronmovably mounted so as to pass between the skatingsurface and thoseantifriction devices which project from the carrier.

2. In a roller-skate, the combination, with a carrier having a pair ofraeeways arranged side by side in close juxtaposition, of separateantifriction devices located and orbitally movable in said raceways, afoot-plate supported by said carrier, and an integral flexible travelingapron, arranged to Contact with the skating-surface and to form a trackfor the antifriction devices.

3. In a roller-skate, the combination, with a link-shaped tubularcarrier, having a portion cut away, and a series of antifrictionballsorbitally movable therein and projecting through the cut-away portionwhen they come opposite the same, of an integral ilexible endless apronmovably mounted in guide devices surrounding the carrier, and contactingwith those balls projecting through the cut-away portion of the carrier,and a footplate supported by said carrier.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

CARL FOHR.

fitnessesz LUELLA J. CLARK,

ELLWooD WILsoN, Sr.

